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The Best Non-Drying Matte Lipsticks—With Photos to Prove It

You twist up the lipstick bullet, ooh and ahh at the pretty colour, swatch it, and surprise—it’s matte! Your obsession with the newfound lip colour instantly increases fourfold. At least that’s how the new lipstick scenario usually goes down at Byrdie HQ. (To say we love matte lipstick would be the understatement of the year.) However, there is a less joyful part of that scenario that occurs later—sometimes much later, sometimes shortly after the love-at-first-sight moment we just described—namely dryness. When the dryness kicks in, the colour settles into lip lines, the flakiness starts, and the love affair ends. No matte lip colour—no matter how pigmented or long-lasting—is worth peeling lips. Every so often, you find a diamond in the rough—a matte lipstick that surprises you and doesn’t wreak havoc on your lips.

Scroll through to see the non-drying matte lipsticks we swear by!

1 / 5

PHOTO:

Jenna Peffley

The Pick: Make Matte Lipstick in Fire

The Praise: "I actually typically avoid lipstick because most formulas are simultaneously drying and messy—I'm not down to reapply and do a mirror check every time I take a sip of water, you know? That being said, this Make tube is one of the few that I swear by because it stays put and feels so velvety and hydrating. I'm also obsessed with this punchy tangerine colour. It faded a little bit through lunch, but never smeared—and I kind of love the peachy tone it left behind." — Victoria Hoff, associate editor

2 / 5

PHOTO:

Jenna Peffley

The Pick: Jouer Long-Wear Lip Crème Liquid Lipstick in Cerise

The Praise: "If you're looking for a good, non-drying matte lipstick that delivers a soft, velvety finish, you're going to want to add this one to your cart immediately. It not only glides onto your lips smoothly, but also it stays smooth for hours and hours (no cracked, flaky lips to see here). In fact, it's so non-drying that I forget I even have it on until someone compliments me on my lip colour!" — Olivia Collins, social media editor

The Praise: "Too Faced's Melted Liquified Lipsticks come in a massive selection of shades and finishes. Their Chocolate line is my fave—it offers creamy mattes in various brown shades, and I find myself reaching for this warm nude often. (I think mostly because it smells like straight-up chocolate frosting.) The product packs a tonne of pigment and feels velvety smooth on the lips. Over the course of five to six hours, the colour does fade a bit, particularly at the inner part of the lips, where you start to get that dreaded line if you don't reapply. But it never feels dehydrating or uncomfortable." — Amanda Montell, associate features editor

The Praise: "This is my Holy Grail matte lipstick for many reasons, not least of which is the fact it is completely non-drying. The texture of the lipstick is unbelievable—it goes on silky-smooth and feels light as a feather. It doesn't leave your lips feeling like they're slicked over with a layer of Wite-Out, and barely budges through coffee, lunch, or drinks. I have almost every shade, but Love Liberty is one of my favourites—it's the perfect berry mauve that's super flattering on all skin tones and works for day (with a bare face and groomed brows) or night (paired with a smoky eye). I'm not surprised that the lipstick barely budged during this experiment—the proof is in the photos! It might not be the most matte lipstick in the world—the finish definitely has a faint sheen—but it's matte enough for me. Plus, I'd choose lightly hydrated over super matte any day." — Faith Xue, editorial director

The Praise: "I LOVE the way this lip colour looks and the name Frenemy makes me laugh (very Regina George). My lips feel like they're falling off when I wear it, BUT when I look in the mirror they're in incredible shape. I'm convinced that matte lipstick feeling is all psychological—okay, mostly psychological. However, I wouldn't recommend this colour if you're heading out to dinner or drinks because it smudges very easily." — Aimee Jefferson, associate social media editor

Have you tried any of our picks? Share your favourite non-drying lipsticks below!